Bottle for cleaning agent and package having a bottle and a cleaning agent

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bottle ( 1 ) for a cleaning agent ( 20 ), comprising a container ( 10 ) for receiving the cleaning agent ( 20 ), which container has a container opening ( 17 ), a closure cap ( 30 ), which closes the container opening ( 17 ) in a closure position, and a pretreatment element ( 40 ), which is fastened to or molded onto the closure cap ( 30 ), wherein the pretreatment element ( 40 ) lies inside the container ( 10 ) in the closure position of the closure cap ( 30 ). According to the invention, the pretreatment element ( 40 ) is visible from outside in the closure position of the closure cap ( 30 ). The invention further relates to a package, comprising such a bottle and a dyed cleaning agent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a receptacle, a closure cap and a pre-treatment element. The invention further relates to a package comprising a bottle and a cleaning agent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 2014/004456 A1 discloses a bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a receptacle, a closure cap and a pre-treatment element. The receptacle is used to hold the cleaning agent. The receptacle has a receptacle opening that can be closed by the closure cap when said cap is in a closed position. The pre-treatment element is integrally attached to or molded on the closure cap in the form of an arrangement of a plurality of bristles sticking upwards. The bristles can be used to apply the cleaning agent to a heavily soiled area in order to pre-treat an object to be cleaned.

The bristles on the closure cap increase the active height of the bottle, so that more space is required when bottles of this type are stacked one on top of the other on a pallet. Furthermore, the bristles on top of the closure cap adversely affect a stable bearing surface for a layer placed thereabove in a stack. The bottles can thus no longer be stacked on top of one another as effectively. In addition, the bristles are exposed and can therefore get dusty or dirty during transport or when on the shelf. If the pre-treatment element is merely only mounted on the closure cap, there is also the risk of it easily being separated from the bottle and getting lost.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,209 also discloses a bottle for a cleaning agent comprising a receptacle, a closure cap and a pre-treatment element, the pre-treatment element being provided on a base part of the closure cap so that the pre-treatment element lies inside the receptacle when the closure cap is in the closed position. The arrangement of the pre-treatment element inside the receptacle is advantageous over the bottle in WO 2014/004456 A1 in that it is protected from getting lost or dirty. However, it is not readily discernible whether such a bottle is provided with a pre-treatment element. A prospective customer or consumer may hesitate when purchasing, and then instead reach for a bottle in which the pre-treatment element is directly visible.

Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a well-protected pre-treatment element that can, however, positively contribute to the customer's buying decision. The term “cleaning agent” includes washing agent.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bottle (1) for a cleaning agent (20), comprising a receptacle (10) for holding the cleaning agent (20), which has a receptacle opening (17); a closure cap (30) which closes the receptacle opening (17) when in a closed position; and a pre-treatment element (40) attached to or integrally molded on the closure cap (30), the pre-treatment element (40) being positioned inside the receptacle ( ) when the closure cap (30) is in the closed position, characterized in that the pre-treatment element (40) is visible from the outside when the closure cap (30) is in the closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a bottle according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the bottle according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment in FIG. 1 in the open state;

FIG. 4 shows a closure cap having a pre-treatment element according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the closure cap comprising a pre-treatment element; and

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the pre-treatment element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.

The instant bottle (1) for a cleaning agent (20), comprises

-   -   a receptacle (10) for holding the cleaning agent (20), which has         a receptacle opening (17),     -   a closure cap (30) which closes the receptacle opening (17) when         in a closed position, and     -   a pre-treatment element (40) attached to or integrally molded on         the closure cap (30), the pre-treatment element (40) being         positioned inside the receptacle ( ) when the closure cap (30)         is in the closed position,

characterized in that the pre-treatment element (40) is visible from the outside when the closure cap (30) is in the closed position.

Although the pre-treatment element is arranged inside the receptacle when the closure cap is in the closed position, according to the invention the pre-treatment element is visible from the outside, i.e. from outside the receptacle. In one embodiment, the receptacle comprises at least one transparent wall region for this purpose, through which the pre-treatment element can be seen from the outside. If the receptacle is largely made of a material that is not transparent, the transparent wall region constitutes a window, through which the customer can look into the receptacle and can then perceive the pre-treatment element located in the receptacle. It is also possible for the receptacle to be made entirely of a transparent material. The transparent wall region would then extend over the entire outer receptacle surface.

The transparent wall region can be part of a front wall of the receptacle. It is therefore possible for the customer, when standing directly in front of the receptacle, to be able to see the pre-treatment element located in the receptacle. The front wall can be equipped with a label, this however not being intended to block the view of the pre-treatment element. Since products in shops are generally oriented on a shelf such that the front side or the front wall is facing forwards, the customer can therefore see, at a glance, both the product information provided on the label and the pre-treatment element.

In one embodiment of the invention, the receptacle comprises, in addition to the transparent wall region, at least one light-permeable wall region. Light can also enter the receptacle through this light-permeable wall region, so that the pre-treatment element is also visible. In addition, this light-permeable or non-opaque wall region can also be transparent. However, it is also possible for this region to only allow the light to enter the receptacle as scattered light, like in milk glass.

The higher the permeability or transparency of the transparent wall region, the better the pre-treatment element can be perceived inside the receptacle. However, the permeability can be limited for other reasons (material selection, costs, marketing aspects). The transparency should, however, be greater than 30% and preferably greater than 65 or even 80%.

The transparent wall region, the pre-treatment element and the light-permeable wall region preferably lie on one line of sight. As a result, the contours of the pre-treatment element clearly stand out and are therefore easily visible to the customer or viewer from the outside.

In one embodiment of the invention, the light-permeable region is provided at the same vertical height as the pre-treatment element when the closure cap is in the closed position. If the bottle stands on a flat receptacle base, for example, the vertical spacing between the light-permeable region and the receptacle base is equal to the vertical spacing between the pre-treatment element and the receptacle base. The customer can directly readily perceive the pre-treatment element in the receptacle when such a bottle is on the shop shelf at eye level.

The pre-treatment element can have a first color, and the closure cap can have a second color, a first color contrast between the first color and the second color being greater than 10. The color contrast is calculated on the basis of the L*a*b* color system (see EN ISO 11664-4) in this case, and is calculated according to the following formula:

ΔE₁, =((a₁-a₂)̂2+(b₁-b₂)̂2+(L₁-L₂)̂2)̂0.5

whereby ΔE₁=the first color contrast

a₁=a*value of the first color

a₂=a*value of the second color

b₁=b*value of the first color

b₂=b*value of the second color

L₁=L*value of the first color

L₂=L*value of the second color

The value range for the a * value ranges from −150 (green) to 100 (red). The value range for the b * value ranges from −150 (blue) to 100 (yellow). The L * value or brightness value is between 0 (black) and 100 (white). According to the above formula, the color contrast corresponds to the square root of the sum of the differences between the individual * values, in which the differences between the * values are squared.

A color contrast ΔE of 76.69 is produced using the values listed in the following table by way of example.

a* b* L* first color (light blue) −33 −59 49 second color (light green) −77 2 64

In a preferred embodiment, the first color contrast is greater than 30 or even greater than 70. By means of this color contrast, the pre-treatment element attached to or integrally molded on the closure cap is clearly set apart from the closure cap.

The pre-treatment element and/or the closure cap do not necessarily have to each be one color. The pre-treatment element can thus also only comprise the first color at least in part, which then differs from the second color to a correspondingly large degree, it also being possible in this case for the closure cap to only comprise this second color in part or in regions.

A receptacle wall can comprise a third color, a second color contrast between the first color and the third color being greater than 10, preferably greater than 30 or even 50. If, for example, the customer catches sight of the pre-treatment element having the first color through the transparent wall region or through the window, the receptacle wall, which is in the line of sight of the customer behind the pre-treatment element, thus provides a considerable color contrast with respect to the pre-treatment element.

The closure cap can be substantially cylindrical, the closure cap comprising, at a closed end, an end top surface to which a side wall is connected and which forms, at an open end of the closure cap, an edge that delimits an opening of the closure cap. The closure cap therefore forms a cup-shaped inner space, which can be used to meter the cleaning agent. If the pre-treatment element is arranged near the edge, cleaning agent in the inner space of the closure cap can first be tipped onto a stain on a shirt, for example, in order to pre-treat it, and then rubbed into the soiled shirt material using the pre-treatment element without having to change the gripping position of the closure cap.

The pre-treatment element and the closure cap can be separate parts, the pre-treatment element being releasably connected to the closure cap, preferably mounted on the edge. It is also possible for the pre-treatment element to be integrally molded on the closure cap, preferably in turn arranged near to the edge.

The closure cap can comprise a skirt having an internal thread which interacts with an external thread on the receptacle opening when the closure cap is in the closed position. The closure cap is then unscrewed in order to open the receptacle. A diameter of the receptacle opening is preferably from 2 to 20% larger than a diameter of the edge or the cylindrical side wall of the closure cap.

The pre-treatment element can comprise a plurality of surface irregularities, by means of which the cleaning agent can be applied or rubbed in at the desired point. The surface irregularities can be stars, spheres, dots, lines or other raised or depressed portions.

The surface irregularities are preferably formed as bristles having a length of from 4 to 20 mm. The bristles, which are preferably arranged in rows or in other patterns (concentrically, helically, etc.) can also be clearly perceived from the outside in this case as being capable of facilitating pre-treatment (distributing the cleaning agent and rubbing it in). The bristles preferably have a diameter of from 0.3 to 3 mm.

Another object of the invention, whereby a package comprising a bottle and a cleaning agent is provided, which protects the pre-treatment element and is attractive for the customer, is exemplified wherein the cleaning agent (for example a washing agent for cleaning laundry) has a fourth color, a third color contrast, which is based on the L*a*b* color system, between the fourth color and the first color of the pre-treatment element being greater than 10, preferably greater than 30 or even 50.

The invention is intended to be explained in more detail on the basis of the embodiments show in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bottle that is denoted as a whole by reference numeral 1. The term “bottle” is intended to generally mean any packaging for a pourable or liquid product.

The bottle 1 comprises a receptacle 10 having a receptacle base 11 and a transparent front wall 12. A cut-out 13 for forming a handle 14 is made in the receptacle 10. The receptacle 10 is preferably made of plastics material.

The receptacle base 11, the front wall 12 and additional side walls of the receptacle 10 delimit a receptacle inner space 15 containing a liquid cleaning agent 20. The cleaning agent 20 is shown by hatching and almost completely fills the receptacle inner space 15 (see fill level line 21).

The vessel 10 comprises a receptacle neck 16 on an upper end or on an end remote from the receptacle base 11, which neck defines a receptacle opening 17. The receptacle opening 17 is closed by a closure cap 30. Accordingly, in the view in FIG. 1, the closure cap 30 is in a closed position. A pre-treatment element 40 comprising bristles 41 is arranged at a lower end of the closure cap 30. Since the front wall 11 of the embodiment in FIG. 1 is transparent, it is possible to see the pre-treatment element 40 comprising the bristles 41 from the outside.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the bottle 1 according to the invention. Features or components which are similar or identical to those in FIG. 1, are provided with the same reference numerals. This also correspondingly applies to all the other figures.

However, in the embodiment in FIG. 2, the front wall 12 is not intended to be transparent, but merely only comprise a transparent region or a transparent window 18. As in the embodiment in FIG. 1, the pre-treatment element 40 comprising the bristles 41 can be seen through this window 18. In addition, the fill level 21 of the cleaning agent 20 in the almost completely full receptacle 10 can be read off through the window 18. The window 18 is positioned in this case so as to be at the same height as the pre-treatment element 40.

The non-transparent front wall 12 can, however, be light-impermeable. Therefore, light can enter the receptacle inner space 15 not only through the window 18, but also through the non-opaque front wall 12 and through the preferably likewise non-opaque side walls of the receptacle 10.

FIG. 3 shows the bottle 1 in FIG. 1 in an open state. In addition, the bottle 1 in FIG. 3 is not filled with the cleaning agent 20 in FIG. 1. The receptacle neck 16, which has a circular cross section and comprises the likewise circular receptacle opening 17, comprises an external thread 19 (not shown separately), which is used to attach the closure cap 30 to the receptacle 10.

FIG. 4 is a slightly enlarged view of the closure cap 30 and the closure element 40 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure element 40 not being mounted on the closure cap 30 in this figure but being at a small spacing therefrom. The closure cap 30 comprises a substantially cylindrical structure having an end top surface 31 and a side wall 32 connected thereto. The side wall 32 forms the lateral face of the cylindrical closure cap 30. The closure cap 30 comprises a circular edge 34 at a lower end or at an end 33 remote from the top surface 31, which edge delimits a cap opening 35 of the closure cap 30. When turned upside down, i.e. with the top surface 31 as a supporting surface, the closure cap 30 can be used as a metering cap. The top surface 31 and side wall 32 delimit a cup-shaped cap inner space 36.

A skirt 37 that is open towards the lower end 33 and is intended to comprise an internal thread (not shown) on the inner side 38 thereof (see FIG. 5) is provided approximately equidistantly from the top surface 31 and the edge 34. When the closure cap 30 is in the closed position, said internal thread interacts with the external thread 19 of the receptacle 10 so that the closure cap 30 seals the receptacle opening 17. In order to open the bottle 1, the closure cap is then unscrewed and can, when held so the top surface 31 is facing downwards, hold a certain amount of cleaning agent which can then be poured into a washing machine, for example.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the closure cap 30 comprising the pre-treatment element 40 mounted thereon. FIG. 5 in particular also shows additional details of the pre-treatment element 40. The pre-treatment element 40 comprises an insertion ring 42 and a bristle connecting piece 43 on which the bristles 41 are arranged. An internal diameter of the insertion ring 42 approximately corresponds to an external diameter of the side wall 32 of the closure cap 30, and therefore the pre-treatment element 40 sits fast on the open end 35 of the closure cap 30 by its insertion ring 42. Using a certain amount of force, the pre-treatment element 40 can be detached from the lower edge 35 of the closure cap 30 and, if desired, mounted on the upper end, i.e. on the end of the closure cap comprising the top surface 31.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the connecting piece 43 does not cover the whole cap opening 35 of the closure cap 30. The lug 43 is approximately semi-circular and therefore covers approximately half of the cap opening 35.

In the same plane as the connecting piece 43, there is a circumferential annular edge zone 44, by means of which the pre-treatment element 40 abuts the closure cap 30. Therefore, the position of the pre-treatment element 40 is fixed in the axial direction of the substantially cylindrical closure cap 30.

A length L of the bristles 41 (distance from the plane of the connecting piece 43 to a bristle tip 45) can be from 8 to 12 mm. The bristles preferably have a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the pre-treatment element 40, some details of which differ from the embodiment of the pre-treatment element 40 shown in FIG. 5. A circumferential collar 46 is integrally molded on the outer edge of the lug 43, the height of which corresponds to approximately 20 to 35 percent of the length L of the bristles 41. If, for example, the pre-treatment element 40 is mounted on the upper end of the closure cap 30, the collar 46 and the lug 43 form a small reservoir for cleaning agent which still adheres to the bristles 41 after pre-treatment has taken place and could possibly run down the side wall 32 in the absence of the collar 46.

Furthermore, the embodiment in FIG. 6 comprises two gripping regions 47 which are arranged on the outer side of the insertion ring 42 so as to be offset from one another by 180 degrees (FIG. 6 merely shows just one gripping region). The gripping region 47 comprises small parallel notches or small parallel ribs 48 having a height of from 0.1 to 0.3 mm. A chamfer 49 is provided on the inner side of the insertion ring 42 and makes it easier to mount the pre-treatment element 40 on the closure cap 30.

By means of corresponding coloring of the closure cap 30 and pre-treatment element 40 and of the pre-treatment element 30 and receptacle 10, the pre-treatment element can be easily perceived by the customer, even when it is located in the receptacle 10 so as to be well protected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 bottle

10 receptacle

11 receptacle base

12 front wall

13 cut-out

14 handle

15 receptacle inner space

16 receptacle neck

17 receptacle opening

18 transparent region/window

19 external thread

20 cleaning agent

21 fill level line

30 closure cap

31 top surface

32 side wall

33 lower end

34 edge

35 cap opening

36 cap inner space

37 skirt

38 inner side

40 pre-treatment element

41 bristles

42 insertion ring

43 connecting piece

44 edge zone

45 bristle tip

46 collar

47 gripping region

48 notch/rib

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a receptacle for holding the cleaning agent, which has a receptacle opening, a closure cap which closes the receptacle opening when in a closed position, and a pre-treatment element attached to or integrally molded on the closure cap, the pre-treatment element being positioned inside the receptacle when the closure cap is in the closed position, wherein the pre-treatment element is visible from the outside when the closure cap is in the closed position.
 2. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises at least one transparent wall region.
 3. The bottle according to claim 2, wherein the transparent wall region is part of a front wall of the receptacle.
 4. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises at least one light-permeable wall region.
 5. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the transparent wall region, the pre-treatment element and the light-permeable wall region lie in one line of sight.
 6. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the transparent region is provided at the same vertical height as the pre-treatment element when the closure cap is in the closed position.
 7. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the pre-treatment element has a first color, and in that the closure cap has a second color, a first color contrast between the first color and the second color being greater than 10, calculated on the basis of the L*a*b* color system.
 8. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein a receptacle wall has a third color, a second color contrast between the first color and the third color being greater than 10, calculated on the basis of the L*a*b* color system.
 9. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the closure cap is substantially cylindrical, the closure cap comprising, at a closed end, an end top surface to which a side wall is connected and which forms, at a lower end of the closure cap, an edge that delimits a cap opening of the closure cap.
 10. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the pre-treatment element and the closure cap are separate parts.
 11. The bottle according to claim 6, wherein the closure cap comprises a skirt having an internal thread which interacts with an external thread on the receptacle opening in the closed position.
 12. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the pre-treatment element comprises a plurality of bristles having a length of from 4 mm to 20 mm.
 13. The bottle according to claim 1, wherein the bristles have a diameter of from 0.3 to 3 mm.
 14. Package comprising a bottle according to claim 1 and a cleaning agent, which has a fourth color, wherein a third color contrast between the fourth color and the first color of the pre-treatment element is greater than 10, calculated on the basis of the L*a*b* color system. 